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But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. Psalms 14:5

Psalm 14 is somewhat of a mystery as far as author and context, but many believe it was written by young David during the time that Saul persecuted him. No matter, it is obvious the poet is under duress and struggling with the overwhelming depravity of the world.

When we are struggling with life, the horrible ugliness of the moment begins to permeate everything. For instance, when it is raining in my yard it is hard to imagine the weather is perfect in Hawaii. If my day is wet, then everyone’s day is soggy also, maybe even for all eternity! I don’t mean to minimize struggle or grief, but call attention to a tendency to generalize, a habit that brings defeat.

The sinner, atheist or rebel, is a strong force. The words and actions of the ‘fool’ discourage and offend, leaving the believer feeling alone and disconnected from everything. But saying there is no God does not make it so. If I said, “There is no fire,” I would still get burned if I put my hand in the flames.

God is always looking upon the righteous. He knows our worship and hears our praise. He is our refuge and provides a path of safety and steadfast security, even when we do not see a way
and when others declare a hopeless state.

Praise louder than the nay-sayers and love beyond the despair.

Being A Little Noisy,

Gretchen

I Rest My Faith

Many years ago I entered the wonderful world of Children’s Ministry. It is one of the most fulfilling experiences any person could ever hope to have. Through the years my Bible students have asked many deep and theological questions. Some I was prepared to answer, others challenged me to a deeper study and higher knowledge of God’s omnipotence, love and mighty power. But it is the parents, whom I dearly love, that have asked the same consistent questions as they decide whether I am worthy to join their team in the spiritual development of their children and family. I am always honored to give my honest, heartfelt answer and after several days in the wilderness of Southwest Colorado’s San Juan mountains, I have once again reflected on the responses I give to these questions.

The most often asked question number one is, “Do you believe the Biblical account of creation that says the world is six thousand years old, or do you believe the earth is millions of years old as science indicates?” My answer is “Yes!” God is the author of time, He created everything from nothing. If God made it look millions of years old when it is not, or if indeed it was billions and billions of years ago when He separated the Heavens from the earth, it does not matter. My faith does not rest on a timeline.

Isaiah 40:28 states that The LORD is the Creator of the ends of the earth however the mystery of it came about. He never grows tired and has an understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 9:6 gives many names to the coming Savior who is the Son of God, and One with God: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father. God is full of wonder. He is not threatened by a child that ponders. We understand that God has no need of the physical restoration such as sleep and nutrition, but to say He will never grow weary or tired extends to a countenance of patience toward the child that perpetually questions everything. In fact, I think God endorses a mind that is busy with the marvels of the world around, for knowledge and forward movement begin with inquiry.

Most often asked question number two: “Do you believe life exists beyond earth?” Well, there are a great many definitions to life, from organisms with no moral awareness, to other human races? I do not know, but again, my faith simply does not rest here. If there is life beyond our known world, then God created it/ them and has a plan of redemption and salvation there also. He is the one and only God of all that exists and He is Love.

There is one question I would like the answer that I don’t get asked often enough. “Where does your faith rest?” Thanks for asking, I’d love to share. My faith rests in this alone: God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins because He loves me. Jesus was unjustly and falsely convicted, executed, dead and buried, and on a beautiful Sunday morning the the spring of the year, He rose from the grave, breaking all power of death for those who will believe…… and that’s me.

Someday I will exist in a place where time doesn’t exist and unanswered questions will not matter, but I know the things I wonder about will be revealed to their fullest and trust me, I have a list of questions. As a school teacher, the ‘why’ of head lice is way further up the list than the eons it took for water to percolate through earth’s crust and make a cavern.

I encourage you to keep asking questions. I have faith that your search will end as mine did, at the Throne of God.

Wandering and Wondering,

Gretchen

Be merciful to those who doubt; Jude 1:22

Jude was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. He did not believe Jesus was the Messiah until after the crucifixion and resurrection. He referred to himself as Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, brother of James. James was another brother of Jesus who became a believer after the resurrection.

Jude was an old man when he wrote his letter. There were those that had begun to pervert the Gospel of salvation with clever misinterpretations, making confusion for new believers. As if life wasn’t difficult enough for Christians in the first century A.D., with persecution, loss of home, family and income, now there were wolves in lambs clothing waiting to pounce upon vulnerable people seeking to do right. Jude was compelled to speak up.

The exploitation of people under the guise of Christianity has been a problem since the beginning of the church. Mature disciples are charged to be wise, patient, loving and kind. Show mercy to those who are struggling. Leading is a form of loving, judging and criticizing is not.

Love,

Gretchen

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, Hebrews 10:24

There are a great many unknowns about who first read Hebrews and who authored it, but one thing is certain; someone with a pastor’s heart longed for the discipleship and spiritual health of this community of believers.

Christian man has everything! Salvation, eternal life, uninterrupted access to the Father, assurance, comfort, blessings……..yet…….struggle, persecution, temptation, LIFE ON EARTH happens. The writer of Hebrews says, “Consider” how to keep each other going strong for the perpetuation of the Gospel.

Consider means to turn over in one’s mind, to ponder and to regard in a certain way. It is a verb, an action that includes thoughtfulness then a carrying through. Spur is also a verb that means to instigate, rally or urge.

The world needs an unending supply of love and good deeds and those that are delivering them need to feel the spurring of one another. So think about making someone strong today with your acts of encouragement.

By the Way…..You are all a tremendous blessing! Thanks!

Love,

Grethen

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

I have a confession. The greatest obstacle to my spiritual growth and victory is applying man’s carnal nature to God’s Holy character. I think of grace as I do my checkbook. I was given a beginning balance and someday I will run out. I think of good and bad balancing, and act as though God has been so good for so long, I’m due for a walk on the dark side. Finally, I think that God has a hidden agenda and is setting me up for great w2hope, only to let me down, just to keep me in my place. I continuously play mind games with faith and goodness. It’s exhausting to say the least and it’s a wrong behavior, that will has the power to wreck my fellowship and relationship with my Savior. Okay, confession over, devotional begins.

Isaiah had an encounter with God when He was called. Everything Isaiah spoke to a rebellious people was colored with this face to Face moment. He knew God! Chapter 55 begins with an invitation to the bounty of God’s blessing for all. It isn’t about our worthiness, it is about God’s willingness.

God is Good! He is not devious, He does not plan evil, He writes a perfect peace. Superimposing man’s instinct of selfishness onto God completely invalidates Him. Man’s ways are not God’s ways, except that they chose to become Holy through faith. The ancient children of Israel must have struggled with this too or Isaiah wouldn’t have been sent to correct the error. Come to the table, rest, refresh, refuel and respond. You are invited and it is GOOD!

Love,

Gretchen

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?” John 14:9

It is Thursday evening before the day of crucifixion. Jesus is pulling His disciples into a close family meeting. He only has hours left to prepare them for the darkest days they have ever known. Judas is in the act of betraying, Jesus is talking about leaving and now He tells them they will automatically recognize a father they have never met. They do not yet understand Jesus is One with His Father.

This group of persevering, dedicated men have spent three years walking beside Jesus, sharing His meals, watching Him perform miracles, minister and love. And yet, moments into a theological discussion their faith shakes. The good news is, shaken faith does not shake the Father. Jesus continues on in detail to explain His Oneness with His Father. He did not throw up His hands and walk away. In fact, He said in verse 12 that they will do even greater things than previously seen, AND Jesus promises to provide the things they ask for in His name.

Faith is a choice and it has to be made daily, sometimes moment to moment, but Jesus doesn’t abandon us as we seek, or because we need to seek. He didn’t quit these men that walked beside Him and then struggled, He will not quit you either. Let faith be the thing you ask for in Jesus’ name.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31 & 32

The Jewish church leadership had become dependent on strict legalistic obedience to law and their security as descendants of Abraham. They were not interested in “The Truth” ( You know the One……. the Way, the Truth and the Life?) setting them free because they were far above being slaves in their self-exhalthed positions. They wrote truth as it benefited their agenda and selfish desires. Becoming their own authority, they tread on very dangerous ground.

God is the author of truth. He is Truth. We must always look to Him for clarification, guidance and authority. When we lie and expect others to accept and act upon the deception, we author truth and that is blasphemy, the very crime these same men condemned Jesus to die for.

While Jesus is baring witness before the Pharisees He gives warning to those that do not recognize Him as God’s Son. Many do believe (verse 30) and follow Jesus, the perfect Truth.

Love and Prayers,

Gretchen

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44

Acts is Salvation History! The story of the birth of Christianity, told by Luke, quoting the first sermons, and chronicling the ‘Acts’ of the Apostles. What’s the bottom line? They got it right, Heaven’s space is filled with people that heard the word and turned from their wicked ways to embrace grace and cling to the promise of a Savior that would not abandon His children to their graves!!

The disciples were quietly waiting in Jerusalem. They knew something was about to happen, Peter was beginning to connect the dots. Their only hope was to pray, anticipate, remain together in one heart and mind. If they did not, all was a futile, disappointing waist of hope.

This early church had to stick together. Conversion meant loss of status, family, income. The consequence of separating from each other was life or death. We may be slightly more confident today, but it is a delusion. If Christian homes don’t have everything in common, disastrous things are lurking. If lay persons don’t stand for a common objective, little gets accomplished and evangelism is put aside for pettiness. All point of ministry must come together as separate parts with one goal, SALVATION!

Does satan wish to divide and conquer? YES! If he accomplishes this on any level, he has won. So put all of yourself aside and fill the empty space with the Holy Spirit. You’ll have much to offer and share in common  with a great community of believers.

Love,

Gretchen

 

 

Hauling Rocks

“I have built many altars in my home,” was a phrase often used by my mother-in-law during testimony services on Sunday and Wednesday night prayer meetings. She would often tell me of being distressed about something and going off to a certain place to pray. Each place had a significance and she was determined and faithful to altars and prayer.

Alters are mentioned often in the Bible. They were raised structures designed for sacrifice, but most importantly they were built as a monument to commemorate or remember an encounter with God. They symbolize communion with the LORD.

When God provided a dry path across the Jordan River and Joshua led the Hebrew children into the Land of Canaan, God said to send a member from each tribe back into the riverbed and retrieve a rock to build an alter. When this was done the river returned to its normal seasonal flow and on the banks twelve random stones became a place to return to and know God was faithful. He provided and protected. The same unchanging God, would remain so and to the future be as faithful as history reveals. (Joshua 4.)

When I was a teenager my parents purchased land on top of a mountain to build a home. It was a great adventure building a home of our own. However, the first order of business was to turn a wasteland of hard rock and little soil into an inhabitable lawn. Summer days, after school and several Saturdays we trekked to the house site. We threw boulders over the bluff and into the woods, we selected the choicest stones to be used in the exterior walls, and sometimes we just made flowerbeds, all in an effort to rid ourselves of these geological nuisances.

We didn’t live in that house for long. Dad was called to shepherd a new flock and eventually a ‘for sale’ sign added ‘sold.’ But I have returned to this address many times over the years. Looked at the trees, once so small, now giving shade. I’ve been drawn to the edge of the drive and looked off that bluff and remembered the rocks, and the dreams, and the silly times we had as adolescents turning labor into frolic. I look at the exterior walls and remember the pride my parents took in their accomplishment. And I remember in the home, we prayed, we cried, we laughed, we fought, and we prayed some more.

Recently my husband and I traveled with a friend to a place with a very similar story. Her family needed a place of respite, so her parents acquired a beautiful lake front property. Under her dad’s direction they hauled rocks. They turned their stoney slope into an Eden where the ivy from her wedding bouquet still flourishes. There are rock walls, waterfalls, pools, and flower beds. The rocks had to go somewhere so they became a thing of beauty, a source of joy.

The Israelites were under attack by the Philistines and Samuel prayed. The Israelites prevailed and Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen and called it’s name Ebenezer. (I Samuel 7:12) Today a popular Hymn references this monument.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer, here by Thy great help I’ve come. (Robert Robinson)

Haul some rocks. Build some altars. Return to them and remember. Bring your family, and some friends. Tell them, sing praise, worship and stand in the anticipation of the days to come.

Love,

Gretchen

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. Romans 3:21

In Paul’s day Rome was a vast empire spanning an area from Britain to Arabia. It was wealthy and cosmopolitan. All roads led to Rome, so people traveled and there were Roman citizens who witnessed Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. This letter is addressed to the Christian community in Rome that took root on that day. It would be three long years before Paul personally reached Rome and it would be as a prisoner.

Paul is placing all the pieces of God’s ‘puzzle’ together. The death and resurrection of Christ is the only means of salvation. The prophets testified to this even if they were not to see it in person. Christ’s sacrifice changed obedience to the law to obedience to love.

As Christians we are all the same, there is no differentiation between Jew and Gentile. We are all alike under the power of sin and salvation comes to all of us exactly the same. The following verses are very familiar and add to the understanding of verse 21. “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Praise be to God, for His Righteousness is known and we can share in His Glory.

Love,

Gretchen